Host Nation Togo Leads the Way at 2026 West African Championship

Agbodrafo, TOGO – Togo claimed the lion’s share of the titles on home water as the 2026 West African Classic Rowing and Beach Sprint Rowing Championships wrapped up on the shores of Lake Togo. Held in Agbodrafo from 24 to 28 June, the championships brought together five nations – host Togo, Benin, Senegal, Nigeria and Sierra Leone – for a week of racing built on friendship, fair play and sporting excellence.

The Classic Rowing Championships were contested on Friday, 26 June, with U17, U19 and Senior athletes racing the single and double sculls. Two days later, the Beach Sprint Championships took over the programme, with the same age categories competing in the coastal single and coastal double.

Togo’s Dominant Showing on Home Water

The host nation delivered on its preparation. Togo’s rowers won the majority of races across both the classic and beach sprint programmes, a result the Togolese Rowing Federation credited to sustained technical, physical and organisational development. It capped a strong week for the hosts on Lake Togo.

Encouraging Signs from the Region

Senegal was one of the stories of the week, with results pointing to clear technical and physical gains and confirming the country’s steady development in the sport.

Benin held its form, posting results consistent with its showing at recent regional competitions.

Nigeria’s crews have more ground to make up to challenge for the leading positions in West African rowing, a gap the federation will look to close before the next edition.

Sierra Leone provided one of the standout storylines of the championships. Competing internationally for only the second time – following the 2025 African Rowing Championships in South Africa – the team’s presence in Agbodrafo reflected the country’s growing commitment to the sport and marked another encouraging step for rowing’s development in the region.

A Championship Praised for Its Organisation

The results were only part of the story. National referees, technical officials and members of the Organising Committee – drawn largely from the West African rowing community itself – kept all five days of competition running smoothly.

The Togolese Rowing Federation drew particular praise for the quality of its organisation. Its work was commended by the three World Rowing experts on site – Sahbi Khardeni, Fayçal Soula and Inas Hammami – as well as by Mehdi Garidi, President of the African Rowing Confederation (FASA), who travelled to Agbodrafo to support the Organising Committee and the successful staging of the championships.

Building Momentum for West African Rowing

The 2026 Championships confirmed the positive momentum behind rowing’s development across the region. A growing list of participating nations, rising technical standards on the water, and organisation of this calibre all point to sustained progress for the sport in West Africa.

This edition will be remembered as another milestone for both classic and beach sprint rowing in the region, strengthening cooperation between West Africa’s national federations and building a deeper pipeline of athletes for future continental and international competition.

Full results: West Africa Rowing and Beach Sprints Championships